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Taco Bell worker IDs Perkins cop as passed out customer

Perkins police administrators have confirmed Officer Kate Barker was indeed the woman passed out in a car at a Taco Bell drive-through early Thanksgiving morning.

Emil Whitis

PERKINS

Nov 30, 2012

After seeing Barker's photo in the Register this week, an employee at the fast food joint confirmed the woman was Barker, police said.

Barker was placed on paid administrative leave Thanksgiving Day, after police Chief Ken Klamar, acting on a tip from an employee, arrived at her home and found her intoxicated as she was about to head to work.

She was dressed in full uniform — including a handgun strapped to her belt — when Klamar showed up at the home. He took her to Firelands Regional Medical Center, where a test registered her blood-alcohol content well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, police said.

At least two other Perkins officers, still unnamed, are also the focus of Klamar's internal investigation into the morning's events.

Klamar has promised a "swift" and "thorough" investigation.

For more on this ongoing story, pick up a copy of Friday's Register.

Comments

donutshopguy

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 5:49pm

So she was driving drunk and passed out in the Taco Bell drive thru Thanksgiving day ?

Just add her to the list of other LE misfits from the area. You just got to love a drunk police officer with a gun. Of course the "blue line" coverup was in full force.

Phil Packer

Tue, 12/04/2012 - 4:11pm

Well played, Kate.

Cowboy

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 6:15pm

Ummmmm yeah, SR you might want to read your headline out loud so you can see it doesn't make sense. Try the word "as" instead of "at".

totallyamazed

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 6:36pm

:(
:(
This is a shame.

Local LE has been taking it on the chin as of late. Personally when trouble arises within the ranks, I feel for the force as a whole. I know a few cops. They are dedicated and doing a fine job protecting us. It's a tough job one that I'm glad I didn't do.
:(
:(

So someone in LE had some drinks, on the biggest drinking day of the year, big deal. Do you read the police blotter? Do you blame her or any of them for "cutting loose" for an evening? Trying to report for duty was wrong, but atleast she told them why she was calling off. It would be just another entry on page A9 if she didn't have a badge.

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 7:29pm

She drove home drunk. She's a cop.

YouDon'tSay

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:03pm

She messed up, yes, but it's only making headlines because of that. I'm sure plenty of other people drink and drive with higher titles. I'm pretty sure a Firelands ER doc has gotten several DUIs and he's still treating patients.

Good 2 B Me

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:11pm

ER Doc s not in question. A POLICE OFFICER DRIVING DRUNK is what is in question. Sworn to uphold the very same law that she has taken for granted!

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:22pm

Beat me to it G2BMe. Same same , though.

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:13pm

The doc doesn't pull people over for breaking the same law she did, either....How can one uphold the same law that they have broken themselves?

Good 2 B Me

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:35pm

Well said! Kind of hyprocritical huh!

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:50pm

Yeah? In what instance have you watched a doc pull someone over on the highway and take them to jail for having bronchitis or kidney failure? LOL G2BMe...:)

YouDon'tSay

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 11:41pm

Sooooo, it's not OK for a police officer to make a mistake of drinking and driving, but it is OK to let an intoxicated doctor slice you open?

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 11:45pm

There are laws against that as well.

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 11:49pm

And really? She made a "mistake"? SHE DROVE HOME DRUNK. SHE'S A COP.

YouDon'tSay

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 12:03am

You stated that already. Go on.....

luvblues2

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 1:05am

:(...Go back to school, darlin'.

Second Opinion

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 1:39am

Let me guess, you also consider legalizing same sex marriage and drug use as a great idea too .....

Good 2 B Me

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 10:25am

What an arrogant assumption. How about focusing on the story instead of peronal atacks on commenters.

Second Opinion

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 3:26pm

If you noticed, my reply was not to you but to YouDontSay. And it does focus on his/her statements, if whoever youdontsay is can't reason out what you posted then his reasoning skills are so bad he also can't understand God or morality.

wiredmama222

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 2:19am

Police officers know better as they are held to a degree of higher reasoning than we are . They know the laws are there and are sworn to uphold them. Breaking them is not something deliberately themselves that any police officer would do.

This girl knew better but went ahead and deliberately drove drunk, passed out in her car and still tried to drive. Being that intoxicated in a vehicle shows not only impaired judgement, but failure to exercise ANY judgement whatsoever. She should have had someone come and get her until she could sleep it off.

Instead she chose to break the law. She is lucky she didn't kill someone in the process of driving intoxicated.

I fear it could have been me....or you. All cops know the rules...her included.

JACKEL

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 4:29pm

Love it ! meant for LOVESBLUE2 I hie reply but not hard enough !

eightballcuet1

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 11:20pm

She was not only driving drunk, but she was going into work in full uniform and carrying a gun WHILE STILL INTOXICATED!!!!. I find this totally unacceptable. Way to go Chief!!!

WhatTheHeck

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 7:13pm

She pulled me over in August. Told me she smelled booze. Really? Sober as a church mouse I was. She smelled herself! I wanted to persue it further but the with wife asked me to just shut it down.

JIMBO2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 8:36pm

There's a security job at the mall for the holidays in her future.

Darwin's choice

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:52pm

" Kate Blart "?? "Mall Cop"

luvblues2

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:29pm

I wonder how many busts she has accrued for DWI...What will those people think when she gets off and just loses her job?

RNR

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:31pm

1. I truly believe there should be courtsey amoung police officers.... as in if they become too drunk to drive off duty, they should be able to call and officer for a ride if they are not busy at the time. 2. However, If I KNEW I was supposed to work at 3am... I would be in bed by 8pm....Not out drinking, whatever job I do. I would not be calling off last minute because i became too drunk. 3. Taxis in Sandusky run $6 anywhere in the city.... and they will run thru taco bell for you.

lifetimeresident

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:39pm

@What the heck
She pulled me over in July. Told me I smelled like Taco's. She was right, and she took my bag of Tacos and Mild sauce and gave me a warning.

allrhetoricanyway

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:29pm

LOL!!!!! That's just damn funny!!!!!

allrhetoricanyway

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:29pm

LOL!!!!! That's just damn funny!!!!!

OMG.LOL.WT_

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 6:10pm

reply to: allrhetoricanyway
More like Abuse of Power.

Minnow

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 9:54pm

Do as I say not as I do!!! Its a shame, does the "OATH" mean anything??Apparently NOT! There are alot of good cops out there but there are also alot of pigs out there too. Yes PIGS, you know who you are, driving drunk, beating your wifes, flexing your arrogant attitudes. Think back folks how many times have you seen local cops, deputys and yes even troopers all off duty at bars (Dutch, Dalys, Mr Ed's in PC ect ect..) and then drive home in there personal vehicles. Its a shame. Its easy to be an academy cop, its not easy being a GOOD COP!!!

clubfrog

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:06pm

one less cop looking for DIM license plate lights ....o ya !

allrhetoricanyway

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:33pm

Put a blanket over it!! Just like ALL cops that drink and drive and school administrators that get dui"s covered up and city officials stealing for YEARS,it's DEF a NEWS story to NEVER END!!!!!!

Sit n Spin

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 12:15am

If she keeps her job will the police cruiser have "party plates" ?

Curtis

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 5:50am

And a Guardian Interlock System so she has to give a breath sample before her cruiser will start!

whopper2011

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 12:19am

Nice that The Perkins Police Chief throws her name our there, but won't divulge the names of the other 2 officers. Sorry, but it does sound like she is going to be the one who has to get roasted in the eyes of the public while the other 2 officers' names are kept quiet.

What a Crock of S***!!

iamrevolutionary

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 1:50am

Agree Whopper! All are guilty or complicit.

Perkins2060

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 3:00am

Who's the dude in the pic?

Gardenman

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 6:56am

Seems like if I remember correctly this is the same officer that banged up one of the relatively new Dodge police cruisers when she hit a concrete traffic barrier some months ago? As I remember some $1000 + damage was done to the police cruiser.

MrSandusky

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 7:21am

Didn't a high ranking Register employee get pulled over for DUI earlier this year? Funny how that wasn't smeared all over the website and print edition.

YouDon'tSay

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 8:43am

Exactly! THANK YOU!

Sarah Weber

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 12:18pm

There have been Register employees who have gotten into trouble in past years, and it has been reported on, but nothing has happened within the past year or two. All the reporters and editors are aware that if we get busted, we're going into print just like everyone one else. Also, I think it's worthwhile to note there are people who are charged with drunken driving almost every day in Erie County and it's noted as no more than a blotter item in the paper. If they do something dangerous or cause an accident, it would likely become a brief or story, depending on how serious it is. The reason why we're treating this incident with greater importance is because this officer was in full uniform (with her gun) intending to come into work intoxicated when the chief intercepted her, and because we're not sure how she got home (whether someone gave her a ride or if she drove.) In the past, officers have been fired from local police forces for drunken driving, so it seems important to know if that's what this officer did.

Ακόμη Sold σχετ...

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 12:25pm

Thanks for that input, Sarah, but I seem to remember the managing editor getting a DUI about 8 or 9 years ago and the report only ranked a second page blurb..

Darkhorse

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 7:26am

Can someone put the newest blogs on top (first page) instead of at the bottom several pages over so it is easier to view and we don't have to hunt way back into several pages for the latest blog? Thank you.

heaven-leigh

Sun, 12/02/2012 - 12:32am

Yes, that would be helpful.

MrSandusky

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 8:52am

Wasn't there a Sandusky Register Employee that was pulled over for DUI not too long ago, funny how that story was not smeared all over the paper.

jas

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 11:31am

I find it amazing that some people think this is no big deal. If a McDonald's employee showed up drunk for work carrying a gun, everyone would be in panic mode but when a police officer does it, we're expected to look the other way and act like it was a simple mistake. I guess all the studies that show the psychological profiles of cops and criminals are the same is once again proven accurate. By the way, I don't recall a Sandusky Register employee getting a DUI but there's a substantial difference between writing a newspaper article while drunk and enforcing the law while drunk. One carries a pen and the other carries a gun. Big difference.

KnuckleDragger

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 4:44pm

Agreed, hence the saying "The only thing that separates a cop from a criminal is a badge."

Julie R.

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 11:41am

Why are they keeping the names of the other two officers a secret? Are the other two officers male or female?

cockynurse

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 12:01pm

Julie:

witch hunt, for some reason. Officers are to serve and protect. How in heavens did the officers who showed up at the Pump serve and protect the community by allowing a fellow officer drive home? Their inaction at that time could've very well proved deadly.

cockynurse

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 11:57am

And the point of this article is....? She was not caught drinking and driving. Even if the taco bell employee is right-there's no way to prove her BAC at that time. She could've gone home and downed half a bottle of vodka.

Certainly, her boss was suspicious that she would still be under the influence when she reported to work-which makes me think she may have reported to work previously and her sobriety was questioned but not enough there to send her for testing.

I am not for LE breaking the law and totally against DUI; but, this appears to be a witch hunt and Barker is the hunted.

luvblues2

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 8:44pm

How many times have you just fallen asleep going through a carry out fast food joint? Better there than on the road, I guess.

Tru Grit

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 2:45pm

This is what I am getting in a nutshell.

1. She passed out behind the wheel and her fellow co-workers couldn't find her, yet she was passed out behind the wheel.

2. After calling off and saying she was to "intoxicated" to work the chief shows up at her bachelor pad and find her hammered and walking out to actually come to work.

3. Names are being left out like crazy.

4. How did little miss "oh just cutting loose at the pump" even get the thought of drinking when she knew she had to work the next day as a COP.

5. You call it a witch hunt, I call it a chief who is sick and tired of turds being hired in and then "cutting loose" and making the whole department look like a bunch of drunks, racists and pretty much terrible law enforcement officals.

My two cents on the whole thing is this. Barker was wrong for drinking the night before she had to work. Ok, fine call off like any reasonable person would do. Where she went wrong is driving over the legal limit (you're a cop might I add) and passing out at Taco Bell. So this cop put other peoples lives in danger driving drunk. Now she mysteriously gets home when three other cops were called to the scene... Something doesn't add up. She then decides after calling off that she is going to come into work hammered off her butt, but the one guy doing his job (the chief) pays her a little visit and finds (little miss cutting loose) tipsy topsy walkin to come to work. Fire her and fire anyone who helped her!

To the PPD chief thank you for trimming the fat off your staff and keeping only the lean good people.

luvblues2

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 3:58pm

Well said, Tru Grit.

whopper2011

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 4:18pm

Also, has anybody thought that the Taco Bell employee identified her BECAUSE her picture was plastered all over the paper and website-not because she was actually the one who was passed out?

KURTje

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 5:45pm

Another reason why women should not be in combat.

mrjsiah

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 6:00pm

Its crazy some of the same people taking up for her are the same ones bashing Demar moore for getting drunk and driving . He was a coach she is a officer he pulled to the side and slept she ran up the time meter at taco bell while she was taking a snooze

queenjhb

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 6:59pm

chief Klamar needs to get his officers to understand, this is not just a job, you represent the police department everyday 24/7/365, you should conduct your life as if you are being scrutinized by everyone, children,parents, teens, adult men & women, everyone. What impression are you leaving them with , respecting you, or are they thinking how unbecoming you are for an officer , drunk is ugly , a police officer drunk is shameful anywhere, any time,any gender. If you cant walk the walk ,turn in your badge, then you can drink yourself happy,sad ,glad and no one will care. Police officers can be better than this,and we should expect them to be.Chief Klamar will not tolerate a coverup of officers by officers,nomatter what has to be dealt with..

queenjhb

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 7:00pm

chief Klamar needs to get his officers to understand, this is not just a job, you represent the police department everyday 24/7/365, you should conduct your life as if you are being scrutinized by everyone, children,parents, teens, adult men & women, everyone. What impression are you leaving them with , respecting you, or are they thinking how unbecoming you are for an officer , drunk is ugly , a police officer drunk is shameful anywhere, any time,any gender. If you cant walk the walk ,turn in your badge, then you can drink yourself happy,sad ,glad and no one will care. Police officers can be better than this,and we should expect them to be.Chief Klamar will not tolerate a coverup of officers by officers,nomatter what has to be dealt with..

COASTER4

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 8:18pm

It comes down to personal responsibility. Ms. Barker should be ashamed of her behavior.I am sure there are plenty of other "responsible" potential officers out there that are more qualified. She should be fired and while she is thinking about her next career move, perhaps she should take the time to clean herself up,she has A LOT of issues. The Chief was right in paying her a visit and obviously he suspected something. Whom ever else was involved should also be fired by all means. As a police officer you are a public figure, you are a role model, and you have a responsibility to to the community so yes it's right that her bad decision making is in the newspaper. She has no business being a police officer ever again. Maybe she could work at Taco Bell?!?! Is she married, have kids?? Bet they are proud.

COASTER4

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 8:18pm

It comes down to personal responsibility. Ms. Barker should be ashamed of her behavior.I am sure there are plenty of other "responsible" potential officers out there that are more qualified. She should be fired and while she is thinking about her next career move, perhaps she should take the time to clean herself up,she has A LOT of issues. The Chief was right in paying her a visit and obviously he suspected something. Whom ever else was involved should also be fired by all means. As a police officer you are a public figure, you are a role model, and you have a responsibility to to the community so yes it's right that her bad decision making is in the newspaper. She has no business being a police officer ever again. Maybe she could work at Taco Bell?!?! Is she married, have kids?? Bet they are proud.

BIGMOE

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 8:40pm

Even someone in LE has to have time to their self.....Its a very tough job and even they need time to relax and get their minds off the job......She made the same old mistake and now shes got to pay the piper

eightballcuet1

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 10:50pm

I agree that LE personell needs to have time for themselves but you don't do it when you gotta work the next day and you make sure you have a designated driver.

heaven-leigh

Sun, 12/02/2012 - 12:52am

Don't like the cops? Next time you're in trouble call a crackhead.

jas

Sun, 12/02/2012 - 12:25pm

I don't like drunk cops or crackheads. I know the cop is carrying a gun drunk. I don't know whether the crackhead is armed or not. My chances seem better with the crackhead than the drunk cop. Just sayin'.

Whether it's a crackhead or drunk cop, neither behavior is acceptable or excuseable. This cop and all the others need to find a better way to "blow off steam" than getting drunk the night before you're on duty. If the Chief wants to get rid of all the cops who get involved in this kind of irresponsible behavior, the community should be totally supportive of his efforts. Good job, Chief.

luvblues2

Sun, 12/02/2012 - 1:29pm

Crackheads don't get paid to uphold the law.

wiredmama222

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 2:30am

I am going to go way out on a limb here and play devil's advocate for this cop here. Has anyone considered this lady may have a drinking problem she cannot control? Maybe she needs professional help with it?

We sit here and type one criticism after another about what she has done (all true by the way) but no one has said something about this. Could it be that this lady is an alcoholic? Could it be that this woman needs help with a huge problem?

Alcoholism is a disease, not something easily controlled. If she does have a problem with it, granted she should not be in this line of work. She shouldn't be carrying a gun. But she does need help and she needs our pity, not our sad remarks.

If that is the case, I hope the department can get her the help she needs before they let her go. There is nothing more sad than someone with a drinking problem. They usually don't even want to admit they have it. Then they don't want to stop drinking. Then they can't stop drinking and its a downward spiral until they hit rock bottom. This might be her rock bottom.

If it is, I wish her well and hope she gets help with it. I hope she gets what she needs when she needs it. God bless her.

luvblues2

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 2:55am

Amen, wired...

SandTownBry

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 8:14pm

Moderators have removed this comment because it contained Personal attacks (including: name calling, presumption of guilt or guilt by association, insensitivity, or picking fights), Personal information, and Libel and defamation.

mrmorency

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 9:56pm

So what you're saying is... you knew she was drunk... you followed her for nearly two miles... but you didn't call the cops yourself? Had she actually gotten into an accident and hurt/killed an innocent person you should be held accountable, too. As should anyone who knowingly let's someone drink and drive, which you literally did. It obviously wasn't YOUR problem then but it's YOUR chance to bad mouth PPD now. I hate hypocrites.

Dont Worry Be Happy

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 10:27pm

Good post Mrmorency

Dont Worry Be Happy

Mon, 12/03/2012 - 10:29pm

I have not seen a bad article on the PPD since McClung left, hmmmm!

asweetnessabove

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 10:35pm

I have to agree. Perkins has not had as nearly as many issues as Sandusky P.D. But for this person to bad mouth the township, try walking in any officers shoes. I'm not just saying that because I'm related to an officer, I'm saying that because of the stories I hear.

You watched this officer drive drunk for two miles... We're you drunk yourself? Hypocrite indeed!

SandTownBry

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 3:28pm

i guess if she was driveing like she was drunk it would have been a diffrent story.and how many times have you went to dinner had a drink and got in ur car an drove home???? Really dont even go there with the hypocrite card im sorry the truth hurts and it is the PPD that always get in trouble an that are always in the paper for something..once again they give Sandusky a bad name!!! SOOOOO GET OVER IT I CALL IT LIKE I SEE IT IF U DONT LIKE IT MOVE THE F**K on!! ..i can dig up so much on the cops in perkins its sad to even look at.theres still 4 shadys that are working there but im sure in do time they will get caught also..but anyways on that note..THANKS AND ENJOY UR DAY!! BUH BYE

Dont Worry Be Happy

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 3:56pm

Having A drink at dinner does not qualify being a hypocrite. If i were to have as many as she did and drove then got on here to post then I would be considered a hypocrite. Plus no I have not seen articles of the PPD officers being in trouble, nobody or no department is perfect but I would have to say these PPD officers keep crime down and that's why I feel safe living in Perkins twp.

mrmorency

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 8:33pm

Are you drunk right now? Did you actually type that comment or did you just throw your hands on the keyboard until it looked like words? Since when is PPD "always in trouble" or "always in the paper"? It's not PPD that gives Sandusky it's "bad name", I can assure you of that. No one says "gee if it weren't for Perkins Police, I'd probably move to Sandusky." Dig, baby, dig! I'm sure the Register would at least entertain your stories.

You can't have it both ways. Saying you saw her having drink after drink at the bar and then criticizing her for driving, all while saying you followed her but she wasn't "driving like she was drunk" so it wasn't your responsibility to call the cops doesn't make sense. So was she drunk at the bar? Yes. Was she drunk when you saw her get in the car? Yes. Were you driving drunk, too? Is that why you didn't call the cops? Rhetorical question, I don't care if you were or not. Doesn't make what she did right. Doesn't make your admitted inaction right.

richrs

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 4:37am

I guess we are not reading the same paper. Last scandal PPD had was McClung. Now SPD is another story. Like the Keystone Kops. And Perkins could NEVER give Sandusky a bad name. Sandusky does very well doing that on it's own. So put down your copy of the Fantasy Island Gazette and start reading the SR. Oh BTW when you have to resort to vulgarities you show your lack of intelligence and you inmaturity.

TuffNutts2011

Tue, 12/04/2012 - 10:29am

If she was a drug addict that just committed a few burlaries something they would send her to treatment.

Ακόμη Sold σχετ...

Tue, 12/04/2012 - 11:58am

While it seems driving drunk and heading out to work drunk would be totally inappropriate for anyone in any profession, (well I guess an 'exotic' dancer would be the exception as long as she got a ride to work ?), I'm sure this young woman has a good reason why she strapped on the sidearm along with her flask ?

SandTownBry

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 3:20pm

I didnt say i knew she was Drunk..what i said is she drove herself and left around the same time we did..she wasnt driveing like she was drunk..and if she was i woulda been more then happy to call the cops.So they can just try covering it up..but thanks 4 asking,,

Dont Worry Be Happy

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 3:59pm

Your last comment...so they can try to cover it up. I don't get that either they didn't try to cover it if they did we would not be blogging about this.

asweetnessabove

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 10:39pm

Stop wasting your time Don't Worry Be Happy, it's impossible to argue with someone who knows all about the PPD and their "shadyness".

You just can't fix ignorance.

xdefiance

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 8:35pm

How would this story go if she would have chosen to smoke a joint?

Mum-of-One

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 5:51am

She was drunk, that is obvious. I think the real problem is that the police officers who attended at Taco Bell said they didn't find anyone. It is possible the did find her and drover her home. If they didn't drive her home then they let her drive drunk. Then the Chief went to her house himself instead of having the Sheriff's Dept do so and that has saved her from prosecution. I wonder how it would have turned out if that was me passed out drunk in the drive thru would all this have been done for me?